When the Patriots returned to Lehigh University for their first meet of the new year on Saturday January 8^th, 2022, it was the senior class that shined the brightest while seizing their opportunities in the individual events.

Noah Wilson overcame a foul on his first throw to launch a personal best of 42’6.25” in the shot put. Wilson secured a fifth-place medal while widening the gap on the top of the team honor roll. Evan Clark earned himself a fourth-place medal in his return to the 200 with a time of 24.06 and shot to the top of the team honor roll. Nik Ventura set a personal best of 19’04” in the long jump, finished sixth overall, and (you guessed it) is at the top of the team honor roll. Matt Saks was a man determined when he took the track to run the mile and set a double-digit personal record with a 5:16.54. Cole Kochan was not to be outdone as he secured a personal best of 2:18.75 in the 800.

The 4x800-meter relay included not one, not two, not three, but four personal records. Senior Jack Steitz set the tone as leadoff with a 2:09.92; also, a top time on the team honor roll. Senior Luke Gormley continued the success with a four-second personal best of 2:18.52. Freshman Dylan Borden was unfazed by the competition and clocked a 2:19.39. And sophomore Mike Steitz, in only his second 800-meter race of his career, improved by 11 seconds to clock a 2:14.32.

In the Distance Medley Relay, junior Josh Daniels made his debut in the 1200 and, like several of his teammates, jumped to the top of the team honor roll with a 3:29.51. In their second races of the day, Clark ran a 53.72 in the 400, Saks ran a 2:29.52 in the 800, and Kochan ran a 5:07.03 in the 1600.

Several sprinters secured personal bests as well. In the 4x200-meter relay, freshmen Duncan McGarvey ran a personal record of 27.08 in the 200 and sophomore Zach Mancini ran a personal best of 27.30. In the 4x400-meter relay senior Andrew Chimezie beat his outdoor personal best with a 59.08 and so did sophomore Brandon Gaona with a 61.95. And junior Joe Sims ran a personal best of 55.94 in the open 400.

The team continued to learn more about its potential and versatility on the track while securing two medals, seven top ten finishes, and thirteen personal records.